Aer City Pack vs. Aer City Pack X-Pac
Two carry-on travel backpacks, compared spec for spec.
Feature by feature
| Aer City Pack | Feature | Aer City Pack X-Pac |
|---|---|---|
| Storage | ||
| N | Compression | N |
| None | Expanded Capacity | None |
| 1 | Opening | 1 |
| top | Passport | top |
| Y | Passthrough | Y |
| Carry | ||
| Y | Backpack | Y |
| N | Hip Belt | N |
| removable | Sternum Strap | removable |
| Inside | ||
| 16in | Laptop | 16in |
| 4 | Main Compartments | 4 |
| Y | Organizer | Y |
| Outside | ||
| × | Hard Shell | × |
| N | Rain-fly | N |
| 1, side | Water Bottle Holder | 2, side |
| Y | Water Resistant | Y |
| Material | |
| 1680D Cordura® ballistic nylon exterior | VX-42 X-Pac |
Key differences between the Aer City Pack and Aer City Pack X-Pac
- Water bottle pockets: 1, side on the Aer City Pack; 2, side on the Aer City Pack X-Pac.
Both have: passport pocket, luggage passthrough, backpack straps, sternum strap, laptop sleeve, built-in organizer, water resistant.
Which airlines take each bag as a carry-on
We checked both bags against the carry-on size limits of 189 airlines. 178 accept both. Every airline that takes one takes the other.
Aer City Pack vs. Aer City Pack X-Pac: which should you pack?
The Aer City Pack carries the same capacity as the Aer City Pack X-Pac (14L vs. 14L), while the Aer City Pack is the lighter pack at 1.1kg (vs. 1.1kg). For carry-on flexibility, the Aer City Pack fits 94% of the airlines we track — the higher of the two. If you prioritise packing volume, choose the Aer City Pack; if you want to travel lighter, the Aer City Pack is the better call.